Electromagnetic treatment of crops

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for electromagnetic treatment of a plant. The electromagnetic treatment can improve or modify plant growth, development, chemical profile, appearance, tolerances, etc. The electromagnetic treatment can also reduce plant pests.

1 . A plant treatment system configured to treat a plant with an electromagnetic field, the system comprising:
 a function generator configured to generate the electromagnetic field; and   one or more radiating structure(s) coupled to the function generator and configured to produce the electromagnetic field for applying to the plant.   
     
     
         2 . The plant treatment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a computational system configured to receive an input specifying parameters for controlling the function generator and to control the function generator to generate an electromagnetic field according to the input. 
     
     
         3 . The plant treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein the computational system is configured to receive a recipe comprising the parameters for controlling the function generator and the parameters specifying a voltage and a optionally a modulating wave. 
     
     
         4 . The plant treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein the computational system is configured to receive more than one recipe comprising the parameters for controlling the function generator and the parameters specifying a carrier wave and a optionally a modulating wave, and control the function generator to generate any one or more of the more than one recipe. 
     
     
         5 . The plant treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein the computational system is configured to receive a schedule for applying the electromagnetic field to the plant. 
     
     
         6 . The plant treatment system of  claim 5 , wherein the computational system is configured to change the electromagnetic field in accordance with the schedule. 
     
     
         7 . The plant treatment system of  claim 2 , wherein the computational system comprises a wireless communication component and is configured to wirelessly receive a recipe and/or schedule. 
     
     
         8 . The plant treatment system of  claim 7 , wherein the recipe is encrypted. 
     
     
         9 . The plant treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the function generator comprises a Software Defined Radio (SDR) or a transformer. 
     
     
         10 . The plant treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to produce an electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         11 . The plant treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one radiating structure is positioned in close proximity to a plant. 
     
     
         12 . The plant treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one radiating structure is positioned within 15 feet of a plant. 
     
     
         13 . The plant treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one radiating structure comprises copper, galvanized steel, and/or or aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The plant treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one radiating structure comprises a transmission line, pipe, coil, capacitor, point source antenna, mesh, grounding stake, tape, foil, plate, and/or standard antenna. 
     
     
         15 . The plant treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more radiating structure comprises a plurality of radiating structures. 
     
     
         16 . The plant treatment system of  claim 15 , wherein at least two of the plurality of radiating structures are at least in part parallel with each other. 
     
     
         17 . The plant treatment system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least two radiating structures comprise parallel transmission lines, parallel pipes, parallel meshes, parallel plates, and/or parallel coils. 
     
     
         18 . The plant treatment system of  claim 17 , wherein the parallel coils are Helmholtz coils. 
     
     
         19 . The plant treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one radiating structure is positioned horizontally or vertically. 
     
     
         20 . A method of treating a plant, the method comprising:
 producing a treatment electromagnetic field using the plant treatment system of  claim 1 ; and   applying the treatment electromagnetic field to a plant.   
     
     
         21 . A method for electromagnetic treatment of a plant, the method comprising:
 producing an electromagnetic field; and   applying the electromagnetic field to a plant.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein producing the electromagnetic field comprises modulating a carrier frequency of 0 Hz to 5.875 GHz with a modulating wave to produce the electromagnetic field, wherein the modulating wave comprises a waveform with a modulating frequency of 0 Hz to 1 MHz, a modulating waveform, and/or an amplitude modulating index of 0% to 120%. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic field matches an ion cyclotron resonance frequency of calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, and/or nitrogen during at least a portion of the treatment. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the modulated electromagnetic field has a sine carrier frequency, amplitude modulated at 50 Hz, a square wave modulation waveform, and/or 30% amplitude modulating index, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the treatment is provided as a constant treatment or a treatment that is turned on and/or off or changed with watering cycles for the plant, set timing, an environmental change, and/or stage of the life of the plant. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the amplitude of the modulated electromagnetic field produced an electromagnetic field configured to be dampened by tissue of the plant. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein modulating the electromagnetic field modulates the carrier amplitude and/or the carrier frequency. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the treatment comprises a magnetic field. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the treatment comprises a an electric field, wherein the electric field produced has a strength of −1 MV/m to 1 MV/m at a location where the electric field is produced. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the carrier waveform and/or a modulating waveform is static, pulsed, square, sine, triangular, sawtooth, damped pulse, rectangular, ramped, cardiogram, or amplitude varying, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic field produced has a strength of at least −110 dBm to at least 20 dBm at a location where the electromagnetic field is produced. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises modulating strength of the modulated electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the treatment is applied to a plant for 1 microsecond to 1440 minutes per day. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the treatment is applied to a plant for at least one day to 12 months. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic field is produced by at least one of the radiating structure(s). 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein at least one radiating structure is positioned in close proximity to the plant. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein at least one radiating structure is positioned within 15 feet of the plant. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein at least one radiating structure is positioned within 3 feet of the plant 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein at least one radiating structure comprises a transmission line, pipe, coil, capacitor, point source antenna, mesh, grounding stake, tape, foil, plate, and/or standard antenna. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one radiating structure comprises a plurality of radiating structures. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein at least two of the plurality of radiating structures are at least in part parallel with each other. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the at least two radiating structures comprise parallel transmission lines, parallel pipes, parallel coils, parallel antenna, parallel wire meshes, parallel grounding stakes, parallel tapes, parallel foils, and/or parallel plates. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the parallel coils are Helmholtz coils. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein at least one radiating structure is positioned horizontally or vertically. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic field mimics a change in the ambient electromagnetic field due to a storm. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method modifies weight of at least a portion of the plant, yield of the plant, germination rate, germination timing, membrane permeability, nutrient uptake, gene transcription, gene expression, cell growth, cell division, protein synthesis, latent heat flux, carbon assimilation, stomatal conductance, the chemical profile in at least a portion of the plant, the time required for harvest readiness, quantity of flowering sites, internode spacing, and/or repel and/or decrease the amount of pests on the plant, as compared to a plant that is not treated. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the treatment is applied to the plant when the plant is a seed, a synthetic seed, a cutting, a seedling, a mature plant, a plant in a flowering stage, a plant in a vegetative stage, and/or a plant in a fruiting stage. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant belongs to a kingdom Plantae. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant belongs to a subkingdom Viridiplantae or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant belongs to a infrakingdom Streptophta or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant belongs to a superdivision Embryophyta or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant belongs to a division Tracheophyta or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant belongs to a subdivision Spermatophytina or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant belongs to a class Magnoliopsida or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant belongs to a superorder selected from Rosanae and Asteranae, or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant belongs to an order selected from Rosales, Brassicales, Asterales, Vitales, and Solanales or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant belongs to a family selected from Brassicaceae, Asteracae, Vitacaea, Cannabaceae, and Solanacaea or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant belongs to a genus selected from  Humulus, Brassica, Eruca, Lactuca, Cannabis, Vitis , and  Solanum  or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant belongs to a species  Humulus japonicus, Humulus lupulus, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, Cannabis ruderalis, Brassica rapa, Eruca vesicaria, Lactuca biennis, Lactuca canadensis, Lactuca floridana, Lactuca graminifolia, Lactuca hirsute, Lactuca indica, Lactuca ludoviciana, Lactuca  X  morssii, Lactuca sagilina, Lactuca sativa, Lactuca serriola, Lactuca terrae - novae, Lactuca virosa, Vitis acerifolia, Vitis aestivalis, Vitis amurensis, Vitis arizonica, Vitis  X  bourquina, Vitis californica, Vitis  X  champinii, Vitis cinerea, Vitis coriacea, Vitis  X  doaniana, Vitis girdiana, Vitis labrusca, Vitis  X  labruscana, Vitis monticola, Vitis mustangensis, Vitis  X  novae - angliae, Vitis palmata, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, Vitis rupestris, Vitis shuttleworthii, Vitis tillifolia, Vitis vinifera, Vitis vulpina , and  Solanum lycopersicum , or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant is a lettuce, arugula, bok choy, tomato, grape, hops, hemp, or mizuna, or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant is spinach, sunflower, canola, flax corn, rice, wheat, oat, barley, soybean, bean, pea, legume, chickpea, sorghum, sugar cane, sugar beet, cotton, potato, turnip, carrot, onion, cantaloupe, watermelon, blueberry, cherry, apple, pear, peach, cacti, date, fig, coconut, almond, walnut, pecan, cilantro, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, squash, pumpkin, or any cultivar or subspecies thereof. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plant is a tomato plant, a lettuce plant, a strawberry plant, a saffron plant, or a grape plant. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein
 the electromagnetic field comprises a sine carrier waveform, and   the modulating wave applied to the carrier waveform comprises a waveform with a modulating frequency of 16 Hz, a modulating waveform of square, and/or an amplitude modulating index of 30%, and   
       wherein mass of the plant and/or a part of the plant is increased as compared to a plant not treated by the method. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the plant is a tomato plant and the mass of a tomato fruit is increased. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a field that matches an ion cyclotron resonance frequency of K +  during at least a portion of the treatment,
 the electromagnetic field comprises a sine carrier waveform, and 
 the modulating wave applied to the carrier waveform comprises a waveform with a modulating frequency of 50 Hz, a modulating waveform of square, an amplitude modulating index of 10%, and/or a nominal field strength of 127.31 micro tesla, and 
 
       wherein germination rate is increased as compared to a plant not treated by the method. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the plant is a tomato plant. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein
 the electromagnetic field is generated by modulating a carrier wave with a DC signal, and/or has a nominal field strength of 150 micro tesla, and   
       wherein mass of the plant and/or part of the plant is increased, as compared to a plant not treated by the method. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the plant is a lettuce plant and the total plant vegetative mass is increased. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a field that matches an ion cyclotron resonance frequency of K +  during at least a portion of the treatment,
 the electromagnetic field comprises a sine carrier waveform, and 
 the modulating wave comprises a waveform with a modulating frequency of 16 Hz, a modulating waveform of sawtooth, an amplitude modulating index of 30%, and/or a nominal field strength of 40.74 micro tesla, and 
 
       wherein mass of the plant and/or part of the plant is increased, as compared to a plant not treated by the method. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the plant is a lettuce plant and the total plant vegetative mass is increased. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a field that matches an ion cyclotron resonance frequency of Mg 2+  during at least a portion of the treatment,
 the electromagnetic field comprises a sine carrier waveform, and 
 the modulating wave comprises a waveform with a modulating frequency of 60 Hz, a modulating waveform of square, an amplitude modulating index of 10%, and/or a nominal field strength of 47.48 micro tesla, and 
 
       wherein mass of the plant and/or part of the plant is increased, as compared to a plant not treated by the method. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the plant is a lettuce plant and the total plant vegetative mass is increased. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein
 the electromagnetic field comprises a sine carrier waveform, and   the electromagnetic field comprises a waveform with a modulation frequency of 50, a modulating waveform of sine, an amplitude modulating index of 30%, and/or a nominal field strength of 150 micro tesla, and   
       wherein mass of the plant and/or part of the plant is increased, as compared to a plant not treated by the method. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the plant is a lettuce plant and the total plant vegetative mass is increased. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a field that matches an ion cyclotron resonance frequency of Mg 2+  during at least a portion of the treatment,
 the electromagnetic field comprises a sine carrier waveform, and 
 the modulating wave comprises a waveform with a modulating frequency of 50 Hz, a modulating waveform of sine, an amplitude modulating index of 30%, and/or a nominal field strength of 39.57 micro tesla, and 
 
       wherein mass of the plant and/or part of the plant is increased, as compared to a plant not treated by the method. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the plant is a lettuce plant and the total plant vegetative mass is increased. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a field that matches an ion cyclotron resonance frequency of K +  during at least a portion of the treatment,
 the electromagnetic signal comprises a DC signal modulated by a waveform with a modulating frequency of 60 Hz, a modulating waveform of sine, an amplitude modulating index of 30%, and/or a nominal field strength of 152.8 micro tesla, and 
 
       wherein a pest is repelled and/or the number of pests on and/or in the plant is decreased, as compared to a plant not treated by the method. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the pest is an aphid and/or spider mite. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a field that matches an ion cyclotron resonance frequency of N +  during at least a portion of the treatment,
 the electromagnetic field comprises a sine carrier waveform, and 
 the modulating wave comprises a waveform with a modulating frequency of 50, a modulating waveform of sine, an amplitude modulating index of 30%, and/or a nominal field strength of 45.61 micro tesla, and 
 
       wherein mass of the plant and/or part of the plant is decreased, as compared to a plant not treated by the method. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the plant is a lettuce plant and the total plant vegetative mass is decreased. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a field that matches an ion cyclotron resonance frequency of Fe 2+  during at least a portion of the treatment,
 the electromagnetic field comprises a sine carrier waveform, and 
 the modulating wave comprises a waveform with a modulating frequency of 50, a modulating waveform of sine, an amplitude modulating index of 30%, and/or a nominal field strength of 90.92 micro tesla, and 
 
       wherein mass of the plant and/or part of the plant is decreased, as compared to a plant not treated by the method. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the plant is a lettuce plant and the total plant vegetative mass is decreased. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a field that matches an ion cyclotron resonance frequency of Cu 2+  during at least a portion of the treatment,
 the electromagnetic field comprises a sine carrier waveform, and 
 the modulating wave comprises a waveform with a modulating frequency of 50, a modulating waveform of sine, an amplitude modulating index of 30%, and/or a nominal field strength of 103.45 micro tesla, and 
 
       wherein mass of the plant and/or part of the plant is decreased, as compared to a plant not treated by the method. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the plant is a lettuce plant and the total plant vegetative mass is decreased. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the total consumption of energy to produce the modulated electromagnetic field is 1000 watts/100 ft 2  or less, preferably 100 watts/100 ft 2  or less, or more preferably 75 watts/100 ft 2  to 50 watts/100 ft 2 , or more preferably 40 watts/100 ft 2  to 60 watts/100 ft 2 . 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising producing the modulated electromagnetic field by the plant treatment system of any one of  claims 1  to  20 .